Maccabi Haifa Unveils Lineup With Five New Players Ahead of Season Opener Against Hapoel Ramat Gan

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Maccabi Haifa prepares for their 2026/27 season opener against Hapoel Ramat Gan with five new starters and a focus on tactical discipline and aggression. The match will take place Saturday at Sammy Ofer Stadium, with the club aiming for a confident start after a challenging Toto Cup. Andrea Novakovic joins the squad for the first time, while young striker Adam Grimberg gains experience with the youth team.

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Maccabi Haifa starts the 2026/27 season Saturday against Hapoel Ramat Gan at Sammy Ofer Stadium.
Five new players, including Nigel Lonwijk and Bruninho, are set to start for Haifa.
Silva Kani and Kenji Hura will lead the attack, with Kenny Saif surprisingly on the right wing.
Andrea Novakovic joins the squad for the first time, while Guy Melamed remains out.
The team emphasizes aggression and tactical discipline to avoid defensive lapses seen in Toto Cup games.
The club stresses the importance of winning the opener to build confidence for the season.

Maccabi Haifa is set to kick off the 2026/27 Israeli Premier League season on Saturday at 20:30 with a home match at Sammy Ofer Stadium against newly promoted Hapoel Ramat Gan, coached by former Haifa player Massai Dago. The stadium is expected to be nearly full for the opening game.

The lineup will feature five new players starting: Nigel Lonwijk, Wanderson Tsunami, Yarin Levi, Bruninho, and Omri Glazer. Silva Kani will continue as a forward alongside Kenji Hura, with Kenny Saif surprisingly starting on the right wing. Saif and the midfield trio of Bruninho, Eitan Azulai, and Yarin Levi are tasked with providing defensive support to avoid the vulnerabilities seen in Toto Cup matches. Andrea Novakovic was registered with the football association just before the game and will be on the bench for his first squad inclusion, while Guy Melamed remains out after only recently returning to full training.

Young striker Adam Grimberg will play with the youth team against Hapoel Ra'anana to gain match minutes but is expected to join the senior squad when needed. Video sessions have emphasized Ramat Gan's pressing game and counterattacks, particularly through Luan Campos and David Asenka. The coaching staff demands aggression and tactical discipline, with the attack heavily relying on Bruninho to lead the team.

The club stressed the importance of starting the season with a win, especially after the Toto Cup performances, to build confidence. They have worked on improving areas that were weak in the preseason tournament and believe in a strong season ahead.

Projected starting lineup: Omri Glazer; Yila Bataiy, Pedro, Nigel Lonwijk, Tsunami; Yarin Levi, Eitan Azulai, Bruninho; Kenny Saif, Kenji Hura, Silva Kani.

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